When the Illinois Central Railroad was projected, it far exceeded in magnitude any similar project ever attempted on this continent, with the exception of the National Road. Both of these momentous undertakings had at their heart Vandalia, Ill.

Many of us are old enough or have lived in Vandalia long enough to remember when the town celebrated it's 175th birthday. And, if you remember, correctly, it took a whole bunch of people to pull it off.
Now, the same kind of participation is going to be needed in the next couple of years.
Back in 1994, there were a bunch of committee for Vandalia's 175th Celebration. There was a committee to organize a parade, one to organize a festival, one to raise funds to help pay for the celebration, etc., etc.

A group of local ladies working at Vandalia's Tourist Information Center on Monday night made a dent in the work needed at the facility. But, it's just a dent.
The center now has a new roof, which was badly needed, and the women rid the building of a whole bunch of weeds.
But, walking up the steps and around the deck of the building, you will see that there a considerable amount of work needed on the exterior.
Some of the steps up to the building are in really bad shape, and wood on some of the exterior walls is pulling away from the structure.

The annuitants of the ExxonMobil met on Thursday, June 29, in Vandalia at Ponderosa Steakhouse, with 18 members and six guests present.
Dean Black gave the welcome, followed by the pledge to the flag. Black asked for a moment of silence for a former member Lois Jones, wife of Bill Jones, who passed away in May. LaVerne Laux followed with a meal prayer.
After the meal, the meeting opened with the reading of the last meeting in Litchfield, which was the picnic at the Mulherns’. The treasurer’s report was also given.